# space station

> spacecraft designed to remain in space for an extended period with a crew

**Wikidata**: [Q25956](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25956)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_station)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/space-station

## Summary
A space station is a crewed spacecraft designed to remain in space for an extended period and to support a human crew. It functions as an artificial satellite in orbit and serves as a platform for scientific research, space exploration, and international cooperation.

## Key Facts
- Classified as both a crewed spacecraft and an artificial satellite.
- The International Space Station (ISS) began assembly on 20 November 1998.
- The Chinese Tiangong space station was launched on 29 April 2021.
- The Soviet Union launched the first space station, Salyut 1.
- The ISS is the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit.
- Space stations support long-term human presence in space.
- They are used for scientific experiments, Earth observation, and space technology testing.
- The ISS is a joint project involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.
- Space stations orbit Earth at altitudes between approximately 330 and 435 kilometers.
- The ISS has been continuously inhabited since November 2000.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of a space station?
A: A space station provides a long-term habitat for astronauts to conduct scientific research, test technologies, and support space exploration missions. It also serves as a platform for international cooperation in space.

### Q: How many space stations are currently in orbit?
A: As of the latest data, the International Space Station and the Chinese Tiangong space station are the two operational space stations in orbit.

### Q: Who owns the International Space Station?
A: The ISS is a joint project owned by multiple space agencies, including NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).

### Q: What was the first space station?
A: The first space station was Salyut 1, launched by the Soviet Union in 1971.

## Why It Matters
Space stations represent humanity’s most sustained presence beyond Earth. They enable long-duration human spaceflight, which is essential for understanding how the human body adapts to microgravity and for preparing for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Space stations also serve as unique laboratories for scientific research that cannot be conducted on Earth, such as studies in fluid dynamics, combustion, and materials science in microgravity. Additionally, they foster international cooperation in space, as seen with the International Space Station, which has involved multiple countries working together for decades. This cooperation has set a precedent for peaceful collaboration in space exploration and has advanced technologies that benefit life on Earth, including medical imaging, water purification, and robotics.

## Notable For
- First space station: Salyut 1 (Soviet Union, 1971).
- Longest-operating space station: International Space Station (continuously inhabited since 2000).
- Largest space station: International Space Station, with a mass of approximately 420,000 kg.
- First modular space station: Mir (Soviet Union/Russia, 1986–2001).
- First commercial space station concept: Bigelow Commercial Space Station (proposed, not realized).

## Body
### Definition and Classification
A space station is a crewed spacecraft designed to remain in space for an extended period and to support a human crew. It is classified as both a crewed spacecraft and an artificial satellite. Subclasses include commercial space stations, orbital space stations, and rotating wheel space stations (a concept).

### Historical Development
The first space station, Salyut 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1971. This was followed by a series of Salyut stations, including Salyut 2 (1973), Salyut 3 (1974), Salyut 4 (1974), Salyut 5 (1976), Salyut 6 (1977), and Salyut 7 (1982). The United States launched Skylab in 1973. The Soviet Union then launched Mir in 1986, which was the first modular space station. The International Space Station began assembly in 1998 and has been continuously inhabited since 2000. China launched Tiangong-1 in 2011, Tiangong-2 in 2016, and the operational Tiangong space station in 2021.

### Notable Space Stations
- **International Space Station (ISS)**: A modular space station in low Earth orbit, launched in 1998, jointly operated by NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.
- **Tiangong space station**: Chinese space station launched in 2021, currently operational.
- **Skylab**: NASA’s first space station, launched in 1973, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in 1979.
- **Mir**: Soviet/Russian space station, operational from 1986 to 2001.
- **Salyut 1**: First space station, launched by the Soviet Union in 1971.

### Proposed and Cancelled Projects
- **Lunar Gateway**: A planned lunar international space station, expected to begin operations in 2027.
- **Russian Orbital Service Station**: A proposed Russian space station.
- **Bharatiya Antariksha Station**: A proposed Indian space station.
- **Mir-2**: Cancelled Soviet space station project.
- **Manned Orbiting Laboratory**: Cancelled United States Air Force space station project.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Space station",
  "description": "A crewed spacecraft designed to remain in space for an extended period and support a human crew.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25956", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_station"],
  "additionalType": "Artificial satellite"
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## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=7874)
3. Nuovo soggettario
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Registros de autoridad de "Materia" de la Biblioteca Nacional de España. Spain open data portal](https://www.bne.es/media/datosgob/catalogo-autoridades/materia/materia-UTF8.zip)
6. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
7. BabelNet
8. [Space station | Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki | Fandom](https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Space_station)
9. [宇宙ステーション | Memory Alpha | Fandom](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3)
10. National Library of Israel
11. KBpedia